LOW CHOLESTEROL - LOW SATURATED FAT DIET
The purpose of this diet is to lower the blood cholesterol. There are three dietary changes which will decrease
blood cholesterol in most individuals. These are restriction of dietary cholesterol, restriction of total fat, and
weight reduction if needed.
The American Heart Association recommends:
1.
Energy intake should be adjusted to achieve and / or maintain ideal weight.
2.
No more than 30 percent of total calories should come from fat.
3.
Saturated fatty acids should be restricted to 10 percent of total calories from fat, polyunsaturated fatty
acids should comprise 10 percent of total calories from fat, and monounsaturated fats the remaining
10 percent.
4.
Dietary cholesterol should be restricted to less than 300 mg. per day.
TYPE OF FOOD
FOODS ALLOWED
FOODS TO AVOID
MEAT, POULTRY,
FISH
White meat of CHICKEN & TURKEY,
VEAL, FISH:
Ground turkey containing
dark meat and skins. Duck
and goose, poultry skin.
canned fish packed in oil.
SHELLFISH: Clams, crab, oysters,
Scallops. Use a 3 oz. serving as a
Substitute for meat.
Shrimp & lobster are
moderately high in
cholesterol. Use a 3 oz.
serving in a meat meal no
more than once a week.
BEEF, LAMB, PORK, HAM:
Use less frequently.
Eat no more than 6 oz. cooked
meat, poultry or seafood per day.
Eat no more than 10 oz. Of red
meat ( beef, lamb, pork) per
week with only 2 oz. per
serving.
Choose lean ground meat and
lean cuts of meat: trim all
visible fat before cooking; bake,
broil, roast, or stew so that you
can discard the fat which cooks
out of the meat.
Organ meats: Liver, kidney,
heart, sweetbreads are very
high in cholesterol. Since
liver is very rich in vitamins
and iron, it should not be
eliminated from the diet
completely. Use a 3 oz.
serving of LIVER in a meat
meal no more than once per
month, in place of meat.
Heavily marbled and fatty
meats: spare rib mutton,
frankfurters, sausages, fatty
hamburgers, bacon, luncheon
meats.
TYPE OF FOOD
FOODS ALLOWED
FOODS TO AVOID
DRIED BEANS
AND PEAS
DRIED BEANS & PEAS: Kidney
beans, lima beans, baked beans,
lentils, chick peas-garbanzos,
split peas are high in vegetable
protein and may be used in place
of meat.
NUTS
NUTS: Especially walnuts and
other nuts except those on avoid
list. Peanut butter without
hydrogenated fat. (Limit 1 tbsp.
per day). Example: Laura Scudder’s.
Cashew and macadamia
nuts regular peanut butter,
any hydrogenated peanut
Butter exceeding 1 tbsp. /
day.
EGGS
EGG WHITE: As desired. Egg
substitutes containing no
cholesterol.
EGG YOLKS: Limit to 3
per week including those
Used in cooking. Cakes,
Batters, sauces, and other
Foods containing egg
Yolks.
POTATO OR
SUBSTITUTE
White or sweet potato: baked,
broiled, or mashed; macaroni,
spaghetti, noodles, or rice.
Those prepared with cream
sauces, fats not allowed, or
Whole milk; potato chips.
FRUIT AND
VEGETABLES
Any vegetables or juices may
be used; any fruit or fruit juice
may be used; choices of fruits
and vegetables should include
a good source of vitamin C daily;
avocado may be used in small
amounts.
Any prepared wit ingredients
not allowed; commercially
prepared vegetables with
sauces and butter; fried
vegetables unless prepared
with allowed fat.
BREADS
Whole wheat, white, rye,
pumpernickel, oatmeal, raisin,
Italian, French, and sour dough
breads; English muffns , matzo,
water bagel, saltines, graham
crackers, pretzels, melba toast,
rye wafers, baked goods
containing no whole milks or eggs
yolk and make with allowed fat.
Egg or cheese bread;
commercial biscuits, sweet
roll, cornbread; pancakes,
waffles, French toast unless
prepared with allowed
ingredients butter rolls, corn
chips cheese and flavored
crackers.
CEREALS
All cereals except those with
coconut, coconut oil, palm or
palm kernel oil. Limit sugar
coated cereal if weight reduction
is desired.
Cereals that contain coconut,
coconut oil, palm or palm
kernel oil.
TYPE OF FOOD
DAIRY PRODUCTS
FOODS ALLOWED
Non-fat milk, dry non-fat milk,
canned evaporated non-fat milk.
Non-fat yogurt: frozen non-fat
yogurt.
Low fat cheeses, low fat cottage
cheese, mozzarella, sapsago,
ricotta, farmers. Cheese should
provide 2 gm. Fat/oz. Example:
lifetime low fat cheese.
FAT AND OILS
Polyunsaturated vegetable oils:
corn, cottonseed, safflower, sesame,
soybean, and sunflower. Margarine
made from ont of the allowed oils
which states on the label LIQUID
OIL ( not hardened, partially
hardened, or hydrogenated) as the
FIRST ingredient. Commercial
mayonnaise and salad dressings
made with the allowed oils and not
containing sour cream or cheese.
monounsaturated vegetable oils;
peanut and olive.
FOODS TO AVOID
Whole milk and whole milk
Products, including chocolate
Milk, low-fat and regular
evaporated milk, condensed
Milk, cream (sweet or sour).
Ice cream and ice milk. Sour
cream and whipped topping
(usually contains coconut oil).
Other margarine’s,
shortenings and oils. Butter,
lard, salt pork, suet, bacon,
and meat drippings food
containing coconut oil, palm
oil, or palm kernel oil.
Gravies and cream sauces
unless made with allowed fat
and/or skim milk.
Non-dairy creamers containing
Coconut oil, palm kernel,
palm oil or hydrogenated fat.
Non-dairy creamers containing
allowed fats, i.e. , Mocha Mix.
ALL FATS ARE TO BE USED
SPARINGLY.
Depending on the need for weight
control, use no more than 5-8 tsp.
of fat and oils per day for cooking,
baking and salads.
SOUPS
Bouillon, broth, consome, brothbase soups made with foods allowed,
milk-base soups made with nonfat
milk, packaged dehydrated soups,
fat-free vegetable soups.
All others.
TYPE OF FOOD
FOODS ALLOWED
FOODS TO AVOID
DESSERTS
Fruit ices and whips, sherbet, gelatin,
junket, and pudding made with nonfat
milk, meringues and angel cake;
other cakes, pies, cookies, frostings,
pastry made with allowed ingredients.
Commercial cakes, pies,
cookies, and mixes. Ice
cream, milkshakes.
Desserts which contain
whole milk, saturated
or hydrogenated fat and
egg yolks.
SWEETS
Pure sugar candy such as gum
drops, jelly beans, hard candy,
marshmallows, and mints (not
chocolate). Also jam, jelly,
honey, and syrup (containing
no fat).
All other candy.
MISCELLANEOUS
Olives, pickles, salt, spices, herbs,
nuts, except those excluded; Tofu
(soy cheese); popcorn with allowed
oil or margarine.
Coconut; cashew and macadamia
nuts and chocolate.
BEVERAGES
Coffee, decaffeinated coffee, tea;
carbonated beverage; cocoa made
with cocoa powder and non fat milk;
wine, beer, alcoholic drinks if
permitted by physician.
SUGGESTED MENU PATTERN
( For one week with proper division of eggs and allowed saturated fat meats.)
BREAKFAST
LUNCH
DINNER
Orange juice or fruit
(as desired)
Every Day
Turkey or chicken sandwich with
mayonnaise and margarine.
Monday – Wednesday - Friday
Consomme – crackers.
Fish, poultry or veal
Sunday – Monday – Wednesday
Friday
Cooked or prepared cereal
Every Day
Cottage cheese and fruit with oil
dressing.
Tuesday – Thursday – Saturday
Beef or pork or lamb.
Tuesday – Thursday – Saturday
And one other meal.
(when desired)
Non-fat milk
Every Day
Lean roast beef sandwich with
margarine.
Sunday
Potato with margarine
Every Day
1 egg
Monday – Wednesday Saturday
Vegetable juice
Vegetable with margarine.
Every Day
Toast – Margarine
Every day
Non-fat milk
Gelatin dessert
Coffee or tea
Salad with oil dressing.
Every day